The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-20
AN OLD STEAMBOATMANS STORY.
The McClung and Davis Difficulty of Many
Years Ago-A Challenge Refused.

The conversation was about d-time duelists
II have heard many anecdotes of the famous
Colonel Bowie, said Capt. John Fl. Oglesby, for
many years steamboat clerk and captain on
the Mississippi, "and knew Col Alexander Nc
Chung the great Mississippi duelist. He
native of Washington, Mason county, Kentucky,
a brother of John A. McClung, one Of the first
perhaps the frst-pastors of the First Presby
terrain Church of this city. He was afterwards
drowned at Niagara Falls. whether as the result
of accident or suicide was never. believe.
ascertaned. Alexander McClung was lawyer
at Jackson, Miss. and Wing, politically.
He and Jefferson Davis enemies.
but perhaps for other than mere political reasons.
Once, when coming up the Mississippi on the
steamer Imperial, we had taken on at Vicks-
burg quite number of Mississippians nearly
all men of prominence and politicians I was a
clerk on the boat. A conversation sprung up
among them as to Jefferson Davis whether he
was really man of courage as men Of courage
were then ranked when duelng was in vogue.
Henry S. Foote then Mississppian, afterward
Senator from Tennessee, of the party.
The matter Of Davis having been grievously
insulted by Colonel Alexander McClung then
a recent incident, was related at length
by of the takers: The. incident
occurred at Jackson, Meetings. home.
Davis was making political speech and was
nearing the close OF his remarks, when Colonel
McClung rose in the audience and interrupted
him. Mr.. Davis. said the duelist. in cold and
measured tone, the statement you have just
made is false; you know it to be
false; and, MIR. Davis, no man knows better
than yourself that it is thoroughly and entirely
false Having delivered himself, Colonel
McClung, bowling to the astounded audience,
strobe from the room. In that day, especially in
Mississippi, there was but one way for man of
courage to resent such insult. Mr.. Davis's
friends were much excited, and expected every
hour to hear that a challenge had been sent and
that meeting had taken place OH the
field of honor. Some of Mr.. Davis's friends
went to him and wanted to know what he was
going to do aboutit. Nothing was his answer.
What! Are you not going to call him outP they
exclaimed in great surprise. No. am not
But said they, but you can't afford to have
such a stain rest upon your courage Idon't
want to die, replied Mr.. Davis. calmly, and a
duel with Colonel McClung would mean death.
He kills every man who meets him or shoots
them wherever he chooses and cripples them.
There are number of his cripples in Mississippi
now But, insisted his friends. cant you meet
him in street fghtn No, said Mr. Davis
| TT at would be no better for me- He would like
nothing better than stree: fight; he never fails
| to kill o- wound his antagonist
1.-The passengers continued to talk over the
| matter. and were still undecided to whether
| the Davis courage was above suspicion after this
| Sinking. Finally an appeal was made to slr.
| Foote WE'LL said he, i don't know about
| that. Mr.. Davis fought me, alludng to his duel
| with that eminent Mississippian. oh that's no
proof of his courage, retorted one of the party;
he knew very well you couldn't hit the side Of
| barn."
| This incident recalled an anecdote III the life
| of McClung, an anecdots that he himself took
great delight in telling By the way, it serves
TO illustrate the quality of Mr.. Davis's courage,
! judged by the standard of the old dueling days
| in which he such ruffier. Colonel Nc
Chung not feeling very we'll, strolled into a
Vicksburg harroom. There was a low.
! browed loafer in the place who happened
to be in his way as he approached the bar. The
| Colonel savagely turned upon him, and with
| three or four we-directed kicks elected him.
| Some time later the Colonel CHANGED to be in
| Natchez and saw one man vigorously kicking an
| other out of a barber shop and across the side
| walk Coming up to them he was much sur
prsed to find that the kicker was the fellow he
had kicked out of the Vicksburg bar-room some
time before. 'How's thisl" inquired McClung.
| ''Oh,n said the fellow with comcxl leer, You
| an me, Colonel, know who ter kick!"
A Yankee Claims the Blue Grotto of Capri